September 9th was a great day. From nearly getting kicked in the face by one of Nicki Minaj's dancers to rocking out with KISS to getting a high five from Luke Bryan to making eye contact with J. Lo, this was not a typical Tuesday. I had gotten a ticket to participate in the rehearsal for Fashion Rocks, a huge event that celebrates the relationship between music and fashion. I didn't really know what to expect, but it turned out to be an amazing insider's look into the production of the show. I took part in the full dress rehearsal as an audience member standing in the pits side stage—aka I was SO close to some of my favourite performers. Unfortunately I wasn't allowed to take any photos/videos while inside the rehearsal...
It was seriously amazing though. Highlight: watching Nicki Minaj rehearse Anaconda like four times in a row and being an arms reach away from Usher. And after the rehearsal, we were all given tickets to the actual show later that night!
In celebration of Canadian talent, this month's Dancer in the Spotlight is featuring a BC-raised dancer who is making her face -- and moves -- known in the entertainment industry. You may recognize her from season 4 of So You Think You Can Dance Canada, but since then, 21-year-old Carlena Britch made the move out to LA to pursue her passion and has already landed gigs in music videos alongside artists such as Michael Buble and Victoria Duffield and in movies such as Disney's Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam and Nickelodeon's Rags. Most recently, she performed back here on Canadian soil at the MuchMusic Video Awards as a backup dancer for the one and only Justin Bieber.
Here's a clip from STYTCD Canada:
She started out under the main training of Kim Sato and her Vancouver-based company SOULdiers, where she learned about all the forms of hip hop dance and the four elements: DJing, emceeing, graffiti art, and breaking. Taking off from there, she has been affiliated with Vancouver's dance crews Diamonds In The Rough and StoneFoxx, as well as RAW Dance Crew in Toronto (I featured RAW dance crew member Gregory Villarico in a previous Dancer in the Spotlight - check it out here).
Carlena took the time to answer some questions about her dance life, so here's a great Q&A:
How long have you been dancing for?
Carlena Britch: I've been dancing since I was nine years old. So, almost 13 years!
Being from Vancouver, how has that influenced you as a dancer?
CB: Vancouver is a passionate city that contains many outlets for training and growth within dance and hip hop culture, both underground in the industry. It truly shaped the individual I am, and gave me the confidence to take what I do and use it successfully in other parts of the world. It gave me the direction I needed to utilize my talents and knowledge to the best of my ability.
You must also get to travel a lot -- could you tell me about some of your favourite places dance has taken you?
CB: Europe was incredible! I fell in love with each city I travelled to (Oslo, Norway; Vienna, Austria; Switzerland; Slovenia & Hannover; Germany) and was so inspired by the dancers and their unconditional love for what they do. It was a very humbling experience.
What has been the biggest challenge you've had to overcome to get to where you are today?
CB: The biggest challenge is one I deal with everyday -- believing in myself enough to make my biggest dreams, realities. Regardless of what you come from, you create your own life. It is a choice. Every morning I wake up and try to be better than I was yesterday, and remind myself that I deserve everything I work so hard for.
Who do you look up to in the dance world?
CB: I'm inspired by so many people in the dance world - we all have such unique strengths and I try to take bits and pieces from everyone I get to meet or work with. However, some of my favourite inspirations are Toni Basil from The Lockers, Shotyme from New York, and Toronto's very own Moon Runners. I do look up to some of the biggest names in the industry, but even some of the most humble class-takers inspire me to push harder at perfecting my craft and experiencing new and uncomfortable styles.
You've gotten to perform alongside Canadian superstar Justin Bieber on both The Voice and this year's MMVA's - how was that experience?
CB: It was incredible! Justin's someone I've wanted to dance for since the start, and the whole experience has been very surreal. I learnt a lot from the opportunity and feel like I've grown a lot as a dancer and performer. He's an extremely talented guy - and I love that he's Canadian!
What are some of the other projects you've been working on?
CB: Before the MMVA's, I was working on a new music video with the R&B singer Ne-Yo, and was blessed to perform alongside Jason Derulo at the American Idol finale. I'm currently training and focusing on some goals I'd like to tackle this summer!
How was that transition from living in Canada to the States?
CB: I made the move mid-March of this year; it was exciting, scary, and very overwhelming! But, this has been something I've wanted for as long as I can remember. My first visit to LA was in March of 2008, and i remember telling myself, "I want to live here by the time I am 21." So, in March of 2012, at 21, I made it my reality.
What was the best advice you've ever been given?
CB: To believe in myself, and not worry about the "how." By focusing on what we want most, the "how" will take care of itself, and everything else will fall into place as it's supposed it. I believe out minds are out most powerful instrument, and we can take on anything we desire as long as we truly believe so.
So what's up next for you?
CB: My current dream is to go on tour with an artist, so right now I'm training, perfecting my craft, and staying focused. I am also enjoying the transition between dance and acting; since Rags came out last month I've been quite curious about developing my acting skills. It's been challenging but extremely exciting!
And as a dancer myself, I love hearing success stories like hers. An inspiration to many aspiring dancers out there, Carlena is continuing to make her dreams a reality and is showing that hard work does pay off.
Be sure to 'like' Carlena's Facebook page and follow her on Twitter @CarlenaBritch
Now for the photos from my experience in the crowd at this year's MMVA. I got a pretty good spot by the smaller stage, so although I didn't get shots of the huge main stage, I was pretty satisfied with mine -- Biebs, Cody Simpson, Marianas Trench, Hedley, and more stepped foot on the smaller stage, so I was happy I had a great view!
Enjoy :)
Marianas Trench performs
MuchMusic VJ Jesse Giddings giving some love to the fans
Anyways, I hope you all had a great MMVA experience, whether that may be from the audience on Queen Street or on the couch in your living room. Time to wait for next year!
- Christina
Follow my adventures on Twitter: @christinaaa28
I'm so excited to be in Toronto during the MMVAs this year for the first time! I've always watched it on TV back on the west coast and I've always wanted to be where all the action is - I'll admit, it's been on my life to-do list. Although this year I'm not actually covering it for any media outlets, I'm going to check it out as a spectator...but I definitely didn't want to wait overnight outside the MuchMusic building to wait for wristbands, so I'll just try to get a good spot on June 17 around that area.
So far the set-up is coming along and people can see it right off of Queen Street; it's actually pretty exciting! And last week, MuchMusic announced this year's performers and presenters - from TV personalities to music superstars, this year's MMVA stage will definitely be full of awesomeness.
Episode 7 of C&C is up, so check it out! We talk about Lady GaGa on next month's Vogue, discuss spring trends with Ryerson fashion expert Hillary Macdonald, and take a look at the celebrities who stopped by Toronto recently!
Subscribe on YouTube! :) And follow us on Twitter: @CandCToronto
Despite the harsh freezing temperatures, it was apparent that Bieber Fever had hit Toronto. On Tuesday, Feb.1, the Stratford sensation made an appearance at MuchMusic to be on a special episode of New.Music.Live and to promote his new movie Never Say Never, which hits theatres on Feb.11.
Although I did not wait out in the cold and stick around to see Bieber in person, I was quite satisfied with watching it from my television, drinking David's Tea and wearing furry slippers.
However, I just so happened to be walking past the line up of fans on my way home after a taping of the Steven & Chris show, so I stopped to chat with some of them. I knew that it was expected to have girls lining up super early, but when I talked to them in person, it was hard to believe they actually spent all that time in a line-up out in the cold. Good thing they had blankets.
I'll have a video up soon hopefully with some of my fan encounters (or it may be featured on the next episode of C&C - and if you dont know what C&C is, check it out - www.youtube.com/CandCToronto ) but for now, here are some of the photos I took!
If you are in any of my photos, feel free to email me at christina.dun@hotmail.com and tell me your stories of how your Bieber experience was! Or if you have any stories from the event to share in general, send 'em along and you could be a 'featured fan' !
*If you use any of my photos, please add a link to my blog!
Thanks!
Christinaaa
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